Signature sititching, folding and trimming mechanism



Jan. 20, 1959 A. R. STOBB 2,869,8

SIGNATURE STITCHING, FOLDING AND TRIMMING MECHANISM Filed May 25, 1956 v v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 A H5 pm" //V [/5 N TOP: ANTON R.STOBB Jan. 20, 1959 A. R. STO BB 2,869,863

SIGNATURE STI TC HIN G, FOLDING AND TRIMMING MECHANISM Filed May 25, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 5 u M m y \l/ i|||| ///UM M \1/ v rotary slitting knives are disclosed.

SIGNATURE STITCHENG, FOLDING' AND 'TRHMMING MECHANISM Anton R. Stohb, Racine, Wis., assignor to Western .I'rinting & Lithographing Co., Racine, Wis.,.a corporation of Wisconsin Application May 25, 1956, Serial No. 587,238

14 Claims. (Cl. 270-3 thence to side slitters for trimming, and thence to an end trimmer for trimming the end opposite the folded end. Where the stitching is done by a rotary stitcher, the signature can be fed at a uniform speed past the stitcher, such as shown suggested in U. S. Patent No. 1,336,445. Also, the folding is sometimes done without topping the sheets or altering their speed, and such folding can be accomplishedwith rotary folders such as atent O "ice ture evenly, and to dispose of the trimmings in a desired :manner.

Still other objects are to provide an improved rotary stitcher and an improved rotary trimmer beyond that already mentioned.

The foregoing, and other objects and advantages, will become apparent upon reading the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Pig. -1 is .a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of this invention, shown somewhat diagram- ,matically and with certain partssectioned.

--F ig. 2is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. .1.

Fig. 3. is a slightly reduced and partially sectioned view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1, and also showing in plan view a member on each side of the sectioned member of Fig. 1.

Fig-4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a part shown in Fig. .3.

Similar reference numerals .refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

Fig. 1 shows an end view of the entire machine, and it should be understood that, for the purpose of clearly showing the machine, certain parts are shown sectioned, and the reason therefor will appear more clearly hereinafter. At the outset, ageneral description will be given in order that there will be an understanding of the overshown in US. .Patent No. 1,021,325. Further, certain,

trimming of the signature while thelatter is moving is known as shown in. the Patent No. 1,336,445 wherein in none of the previously known mechanisms could the signature be transferred through the mechanism at a uniform speed, and, in fact, the signature would be stopped at least once for processing or changing direction of movement. Naturally, when the leading. signature is stopped, the following signature 7 must be spaced far enough behind the leading signature to avoid overtaking it .and such spacing causes a delay in .the processing of the signatures.

in addition to the foregoing, previously known mechanisms for stitching, folding,.and trimming signatures employed belts or other means between each station in the series. Of course the expense and maintenance of the belts had to be undertaken and the overall size of the mechanism is increased by the room occupied .by the belts. i

' Itiis an object of this invention to provide a mechanism for stitching, folding, and trimming sheets of paper while .transferring said paper through the mechanism at an uninterrupted uniform speed which .permits greaterproduction than that known heretofore.

Another object of this invention is to provide paper signature stitching, folding, and trimming mechanism wvhich is compact in that it eliminates the usual belts or guides for transferring said. signature.

V the paper thereinto.

as ,a stapling cylinder.

.parts thus far referred to will be given later, and also with the previous object are to trim the end of said signaunfolded edges.

all operation of the machine or mechanism. Thus, it should be understood that a paper, indicated by the reference numeral 10, is in its initial position on a feed shelf or mechanism 11 with a paper feed or pusher 12 engaging the trailing end of the paper. All of these parts are disposed to one side of the mechanism to feed Ultimately, the paper, which preferably consists of a number of stacked sheets which have been printed andare ready for formationinto a signature or book, will come off a guide 13 at the opposite end of the machine after the paper has beenstapled or stitched and folded into book form and trimmed at the three It should further be understood that the entire process of stitching, folding, and trimming isdone while the paper is continuously moving, and it is not re- ,quired, therefore, that the papers be stopped at any station for carrying out a particular operation, and thus the paper is fed through the machine at a continuous and, therefore, productive rate.

Elaborating in a further general manner .upon the overall machine or mechanism, a combination leading edge gripper, stitcher anvil, and tucker blade cylinder 14 is mounted for rotation in the direction of the arrow shown thereon. Thus, a leading edge gripper 16 is suitably mounted on the cylinder 14 for receiving the leading edges of the papers 10 as the latter are fed to the top of the cylinder 14 along the shelf 11 and, of course, the paper is then rotated around with the rotation of the cylinder 14. ,Asecond cylinder or member 17 is mounted on its shaft 18 for rotation in the direction shown by the arrow thereon, and the cylinder 17 is adapted to carry either ,a cam operated stitcher or paper punch mechanism 19. A third cylinder or member 21 is mounted on its-shaft 22 for rotation in the direction shown by the arrow thereon, and this cylinder carries a cam operated stitcher mechanism 23. The usual wirefeed mechanism 24 isshown adjacent the cylinder 21 with the usual shoe 26 also :mounted adjacent the cylinder With both the feed mechanism available for the usual purpose of feeding wire to the stitchermechanism 23, and the shoe 26 forms the wire into a staple as the mechanism rotates past the shoe. A similar wire .feed mechanism and .a shoe are providedadjacent the cylinder .17 when the latter is used More complete details of the that the cylinder 14 carries a paper tucker 29, and the cylinder 27 carries a paper folder 31, such that the tucker and folder form the folded edge of the paper, and the cylinder 27 receives the paper to carry it therearound, with the aid of the belt 32, to another rotating cylinder or member 33, which is also termed a trimming block cylinder, gripper cylinder, and trimmer cylinder. Of course, the belt 32 is trained about rotatable shafts or pulleys 34 which are suitably mounted in any well-known manner. The cylinder 33 carries two sets of diametrically oppositely disposed leading grippers 36 and two sets of trailing grippers 37, and the sets are mounted on the radially outer ends of bars or arms 38 and 39, respectively. The bars 38 and 39 are, of course, mounted on a shaft 41 for rotation in the direction shown by the arrow on the member 33. Thus, the leading gripper 36 receives the rotationally leading and folded edge of the paper 10 when the cylinder 27 rotates the paper to a position adjacent the cylinder 33 which is the time when the gripper 36 is adjacent the cylinder 27, and the paper is thus transferred to the cylinder 33. Also, the trailing gripper 37 holds the rotationally trailing end of the paper 10 to the cylinder 33, as indicated in Fig. 1. The cylinder 33 rotates the paper past a trimmer or slicer 42 which trims the two opposite sides of the folded signature 10, and also the cylinder 33 rotates the signature 10 past the tail cutter cylinder or member 43 which trims the rotationally trailing end of the signatures with this trimming action occurring when the parts are in the Fig. 1 position shown. Finally, the signature 10 is trans ferred to a rotatably mounted gripper 44 which takes the paper along the guide 13 and out of the machine, as previously mentioned.

Again retracing the path of the signatures 10 through the mechanism, the more detailed description of the various parts will now be given. The cylinder 14 is mounted on a shaft 46, and the cylinder also contains a circumferential shell 47 and two end plates, such as the shown end plate 48. Only the far end plate 48 is shown, and it should be understood that the near end plate is removed for the purpose of showing the working parts in full in' the cylinder 14. It will be noted that an arcuately shaped plate 49 is attached to each end plate 48 by means of bolts 51 passing through arcuate slots 52 in the end plates 48 such that the plates 49 are adjustable on the cylinder 14 along the circular path of rotation. The plates 49 support a rock shaft 53 which carries the gripper 16, and it should be understood that a series of grippers 16 can be provided along the rock shaft 53 to rock therewith in the wellknown manner 1 A usual cam follower 54 is of mounting grippers. attached to the rock shaft 53 through a link 56, and it should be understood that the follower 54 rides on a cam, not shown, with both the follower and the cam and the link 56 mounted outside the end of the cylinder 14, such that the cam action induces a rocking motion to the shaft 53 to open and close the gripper 16 with respect to the paper 10 which has been fed onto the circumference of the cylinder 14. Of course, the cam is developed to cause the gripper 16 to receive the paper 10 from the feed mechanism and to secure it to the cylinder 14 until shortly before the gripper 16 reaches the position shown in Fig. 1, at which time the gripper is opened, as shown, to release the paper 10, so that it can be transferred to the cylinder 27.

As previously mentioned, the cylinder 14 also carries.

a tucker 29 which includes the usual tucker blade 57 with the latter mounted on the cutaway rock shaft shown,

all for the usual purpose of actuating the blade 57 to tuck the paper 10 into the folding jaw cylinder 27. A third mechanism on the cylinder 14 is the stitcher anvil 58 which may be constructed according to the teaching in U. S. Patent No. 2,717,383. Of course, the tucker blade and the anvil both operate on the center line of the signatures, and they are, therefore, interspersed preferably by cutouts in the tucker blade providing the space for the stitcher anvils.

The cylinder 21 carries the stitcher head 23 on the arcuate track 59, and the head includes the plunger mechanism 61, also shown and described in U. S. Patent No. 2,717,383. It will be noted that the plunger 61 has an arm 62 attached thereto with the opposite end of the arm mounted on a rock shaft 63 secured to the cylinder 21 for rotation therewith. Also, the usual cam follower 64 is connected to the rock shaft 63 through a link 66 for the usual purpose of imparting the motion of the follower 64 on its cam 67 to the rock shaft 63 and, therefore, also to the stitcher head 23. Because of the mounting of the stitcher head 23 on the arcuate track 59 in the cylinder, the cam motion causes the stitcher head to move both radially with respect to the cylinder 21, and also to move along the track 59 with both movements occurring during rotation of the cylinder 21. In the usual manner, the stitcher head 23 obtains a piece of wire from the feed mechanism 24 when the head 23 rotates past the mechanism 24, and the wire is formed into a U-shaped staple which is inserted into the signature 10 at the point where the stitcher head 23 is closest to the cylinder 14, and this is also the point where the stitcher anvil 58 is in a mating position with the head 23. Thus, the signature 10 is stitched through the co-action of the stitcher head 23 and the anvil 58, which form the stapling means, as the two essentially roll past each other, and the movement of the head 23 along the track 59 causes the plunger 61 to remain radial with respect to the cylinder 14, and similarly, the stapler is, therefore, inserted transversely into the signature 10 at all times during the stapling process.

The alternate stitcher head and paper puncher cylinder 17 is mounted adjacent the cylinder 14, as shown, and contains somewhat the same mechanism described in conjunction with the cylinder 21. Thus, the rock shaft 63 has the link 66 and cam follower 64 attached thereto and the arm 62 extended between the shaft 63 and the mechanism 19. In this instance, the mechanism 19 is shown to differ from the mechanism 23 in that the plunger 61 carries a pin or punch 68, but it should be understood that the plunger 61 is adapted to receive staple supporting and inserting means similar to that included in the stitcher head 23. The cylinder 17 can, therefore, be employed as either a paper punch or a stapler for cooperation with the anvil 58 on the cylinder 14. If it is preferred to send a heavy stack of papers 10 into the machine, it may be desirable to initially punch the paper along a line substantially on the center line thereof by employment of the punch 68, and shortly thereafter, upon continued rotation of the cylinders 14 and 21, the stitcher mechanism 23 can insert its staple or staplesinto the holes punched by the punch 68, and thus avoid requiring that the staples be forced through unpunched paper. Also, if it is preferred 7 that numerous staples be positioned along the center line of the signatures 10, the mechanism 19 on the cylinder 17 can be utilized as a stitcher head for insertion of a staple or staples into the signature 10 along with insertion of another staple or staples by the mechanism 23 of the cylinder 21.

It will be noted that in the operation of the various cylinders and rotating parts, the cylinders and parts are mounted adjacent each other to be in essentially rolling contact for performing the operations described as the signature is fed between two of the rolling members. As shown, a signature 10 is wrapped partially aroundthe cylinder 14, and the signature is about to be transferred to the foldingcylinder 27 as a folding jaw or blade 69 is included in the folding mechanism 31, which also includes a cam follower 71 for the usual and well-known purpose of rotating the blade 69 in a clockwise direction to clamp the signature against the shell 72 of the cylinder 27 to form the fold in the signature. Attention is directed to Fig. 3 which shows the cylinder 27 and its mechanism 31 with the cam follower 71 which engages the cam 73. In Fig. 3, it will be noted that the cam and follower are outside of the cylinder 27 and, therefore, the dotted line representationof these parts in Fig. l is diagrammatic in that they have actually been removed from Fig. 1 by the sectioning thereof. However, for completeness of drawings, they are depicted in Fig. 1 as shown. With further reference to Fig. 3, it will now be noted that the cylinder 27 is suitably rotatably mounted in spaced apart frame members 74 and 76, and the cam 73 is shown bolted to the frame member 74 to be in a fixed position while, of course, the cam follower rotates around with the cylinder 27 to open and close the folding blade 69 and thus cause the latter to fold the paper along the line upon which it was previously stitched and to retain the paper to the cylinder 27 while the latter rotates to position the blade 69 adjacent the cylinder or member 33. Of course, the signature 10 has been removed from the cylinder 27 in Fig. 3. The mounting of the cylinder 27 and the members 33 and 43, in the frame members 74 and 76, as shown in Fig. 3, is the preferred manner of mounting the cylinders 14, 21, and 17, as well as the final gripper 44, in the frame. Thus, all of the parts are preferably mounted in a single frame.

Of course, in order to permit the cylinder 27 to transfer the paper to the cylinder 33, provision must be made for the leading grippers 36 to grip the folded edge of the signature 10 when the grippers 36 are adjacent the cylin-- der 27, which is, of course, the time when the folder plate 69 is adjacent the cylinder 33. As shown in Fig. 3, this provision'consists of cut-outs 77 in the cylinder shell 72, and the tucker 69 has cut-outs 78 which align with the cut-outs 77 in the shell 72. Thus, the grippers 36 preferably consist of a number of gripper fingers which are disposed to align with the cut-outs on the cylinder 27.

As previously mentioned, the cylinder 33 includes a shaft 41 which carries an arm 38, and Fig. 3 shows that there are two spaced apart arms 38 on the shaft 41. A rock shaft 79 is supported at its opposite ends by the arms or bars 38 to carry the grippers 36 along the shaft, shown in Fig. 3. At this time it should be noted that both ends of the bars or arms 38 contain a rock shaft 79 and, therefore, it should be understood that both ends of the bars contain all of the mechanism, which will be described hereinafter, although it is shown on only one end of the bars 38.

The usual cam 81 is fragmentarily shown in Fig. 1 with the usual cam follower 82 engaging the cam 81. A link I 83 connects the cam follower to the rock shaft 79 to induce the cam motion to the shaft 79 and cause the grippers to open and close during rotation of the cylinder 33. In this instance, a return spring 84 engages one end of the link 83 to maintain the follower 82 in engagement with the cam 81 as the spring is mounted between the link 83 and the bar 38. Fig. 3 also shows that the cam 81 is suitably bolted in a fixed position to the frame piece 76. Thus, in

a conventional manner, the member 33 is provided with a unlike the bars 38, the bars 39 are welded to the shaft 41 .-to be in a rotated fixed position therewith. The opposite fiends of the bars 39 carry two rock shafts 86 and 87 which are suitably mounted on the cylinder 33 for rotation there r with audio the manner in which the shaft 79 is mounted onto the cylinder. The shaft 86 has an arm or link 88 secured thereto while the opposite end of the arm carries the usual cam follower 89 for riding on the cam 91, a fragment of which is shown in Fig. 1. Again, as shown in Fig. 3, the cam 91 is fixed to the frame piece 74 and the cam follower 89 is associated with the cam for rotation thereof during rotation of the cylinder. Of course, in this action, the cam follower induces a rocking motion to the shaft 86 and to an upper gripper 92 which is attached to a plate on the shaft 86 through a bolt 93, such that the finger 92 rocks with the motion of the shaft 36. The rock shafts 87 have bars 94 secured thereto to support underneath grippers 96 and the latter, therefore, are rocked with the motion of the bar 94. In this instance, it will be noted-that a compression coil spring 97 is secured between the circumference of the cylinder 33 and a projection 98 on the end of the bar 94 such that the spring 97 continuously urges the bar 94 into a position where the gripper 96 abuts a cutting block 99. It will be noted that the cam follower axle 101 extends from the cam, as shown in Fig. 3, to be in line with the projection 98 on the piece 94 such that when the follower 89 moves radially outwardly on the cylinder 33, the follower axle 1011 abuts the projection 98 to cause the bar 94 to rock and correspondingly move the underneath gripper 96 away from the circumference of the cylinder 33. Thus, both the grippers 92 and 96 are operated by the cam follower 39 with the spring 97 yieldingly urging the gripper 96 toward the cylinder. With this arrangement, it will be noted that the gripper 96 is underneath the signature 10 while the gripper 92 is above the signature 10, and the latter, therefore, is held between the two grippers for a reason explained later.

The cylinder 33 also includes a circumferential rim 102 which is suitably secured to the cylinder 33 along the length thereof, and the sections 102 have a series of paraller shear edges or grooves 103. Also, the grooves 193 are continued through pieces such as the cutting block 99 which lies on the circumference of the cylinder 33. Therefore, circumferential shear edges 103 are provided continuously around the cylinder 33 for receiving the cutting edge of spaced apart cutters or discs or slicers 104, such as best shown in Fig. 2. The general operation of the-slicers 104 with the cutter cylinder 33 is the trimming of the signature 10 at the opposite sides, as shown in Fig. 2. It should be understood that the slicers 194 are mounted on a shaft 106 and are clamped thereto by bolts 107 engaging the hubs of the slicers 104, such that the slicers 104 are rotatable with the shaft 196, and

they are also movable axially of the shaft for adjustment to align with different ones of the circumferential grooves 103. It should be further understood that the shaft 196 is powered and, therefore, the discs 104 are rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow shown in Fig. l, and the discs are, therefore, in essentially rolling contact with the cylinder 33. Figs. 1 and 2 further show that a frame bar 168 is stationarily mounted in the position shown while a U-shaped piece 109 engages the bar 108 to clamp thereon through suitable bolts and with the piece 111. The latter has a bracket 112 pivoted thereon by a pin 113 while the lower end of the bracket rotatably supports a pulley 114 for guiding a. belt 116 around the pulley while a second pulley 117 forms the other terminal of the belt 116 with the pulleys 114 and'117 disposed to cause the belt 116 to conform to the curvature of the cylinder 33 and thereby hold the signature '11) to the cylinder 33 when the signatures pass the position of the belt 116. It will be noted that a compression coil spring 115 is preferably employed to urge the arm 112 into a position where the belt 116 is maintained tight as the pulley 114 .is urged away from the pulley 117 by the spring 115. Of course, the belt 116 .moves in rolling 1 contact with the signatures, as indicated by the arrow on the pulley 114. Also, it is preferred that a pressure roller 118 be mounted adjacent each of the discs 104 for rolling over the signatures 10 and tightly pressing the same to the circumference of the cylinder 33 along the line on which the discs 104 are cutting the signature 10. With regard to the line of cutting, it will be noted that the disc 104 intersects the cylinder 33 at a line which is essentially the line of rolling contact of the pressure rollers 118 on the signatures 10 and, therefore, the pressure rollers hold the signatures to the cylinder 33 at the point of cutting of the signatures. The rollers 118 are mounted on pivot arms 119 which pivot about the shaft 121 and the opposite end of the arm 119 is urged by the spring 122 in one direction of pivot to press the rollers 118 onto the signatures 10. Fig. 2 also shows the section 102 is attached to the cylinder 33 through bolts 123, and the cylinder 33 is provided with oversized openings 124 such that the section 102 can be moved axially of the cylinder 33 for slight adjustment of the shear edges 103 axially on the cylinder 33.

Figs. 1 and 3 also show that the two bars 38 are rotationally adjustable with respect to the two bars 39 and, therefore, the leading grippers 36 can be selectively spaced from the trailing grippers 37. To accomplish this, it will be noted that the bars 38 are provided with arcuate slots 126 which receive bolts 127 with the latter threaded into the bars 39. Thus, loosening of the bolts 127 permits the bars 38 to be rotated as the slots 126 slide along the bolts, and the latter are eventually tightened to again secure the bars 38 and 39 together. The purpose for this adjustment is, of course, to adjust the trim of the signatures and to accommodate longer signatures 10 and, as explained hereinafter, it will be noted that when the bars 38 and 39 are respectively adjusted, other portions of the machine are correspondingly adjusted to remain in synchronization with the respective I rotational positions of the grippers 36 and 37.

As is customary with grippers of the type employed on the cylinder 33, grippers 36 and 37 are preferably adjustable along the axes of their rock shafts. In this instance, it will be noted in Fig. 3 that grippers 36 are shown to be positioned with a gripper outside of the lateral limits of the shear edges 103 and, therefore, the two outside grippers 36 are available for retaining the trimmed sides of the signature 10, even after the sides are severed from the signature. Of course. a similar lateral positioning of two of the grippers 37 is also preferred in order that the entire strip trimmed from each side of the signature 10 will be retained by the grippers until the latter are opened at the bottom of their circle of rotation, as shown in Fig. 1, and the severed strips can thus be deposited in a desired spot, such as adjacent a vacuum duct 128 which is available to suck the severed strips into it for disposing of the strips. Likewise, the severed tail end of the signatures 10, as cut by the cutter 43, will also be released adjacent the duct 128 and, therefore, sucked into the duct. In this regard, it is, therefore. preferred that the tail gripper 37 be comprised of a pair of grippers 92 and 96 which are operable for retaining the severed tail end until it is adjacent the duct 128, and then the gripper is opened, and when the shaft of the gripper cam follower 89 abuts the projection 98, the gripper 96 is opened to positively move the trimmed tail end of the signature away from the cylinder 33. Upon closing the tail gripper 37, the cam 89 moves away from the projection 98, allowing the spring 97 to return the gripper. 96 to a position of abutment with the circumference of the cylinder 33, and continued cam action causes the gripper 92 to move radially inwardly to grip the signatures, as shown in Fig. 1.

At this point, it should be noted that while two signatures 10 are shown, one on the feed platform 11 and the other between the cylinder 33 and the gripper 44, another signature could be in the machine and carried by the other, but unshown, set of leading grippers 36 on the cylinder 33. Also, it will be noted that all of the Also, it will be noted that the stitcher and folder cylinders I are of a given diameter while the gripper cylinder 33 and the cutter cylinder 43 have diameters twice that of the given diameter, and, therefore, double sets of operating parts are provided on the cylinders 33 and 43.

With reference to the cutter cylinder or cutter bar 43, it will be noted that it is comprised of an elongated bar 129 mounted on a shaft 131 for rotation in the direction of the arrow shown. The dot-dash circle concentric with the shaft 131 shows the circular path of cutting blades 132 movably mounted on the opposite ends of the bar 129. Adjacent each blade 132 is a spring biased pressure bar 133 which is also mounted on each end of the bar 129. The general function of the blade 132 is to trim the tail ends of the signatures 10 as the latter are rotated in essentially rolling contact with the blade 132 and therepast. Of course, the rotation of the blades 132 positions the blades for cutting the signatures 10 as the cutting edges 134 of the blades abut the cutting block 99 on the cylinder 33. In the action of the cutting blades 132, the blades are moved parallel to their cutting edges 134, which movement is also parallel to the axes of rotation of both the cylinder 33 and the cutter 43. The shown mechanism for achieving the movement of the blade 132 for producing a slicing action on the signatures 10 will 1 now be described.

'A stationarily mounted sun gear 136 is shown bolted to the frame piece74 in Figs. 3 and 4, and two planet gears 137 are suitably mounted on the bar 129 for meshing engagement with the gear 136 which is concentric with the shaft 131 and, therefore, the gears 137 are rotated along with their shafts 138 upon rotation of the shaft 131 on which the bar 129 is mounted. Each shaft 138 is rotatably mounted in spaced apart bearing blocks 139 secured to the bar 129, and a bevel gear 141 is mounted on each shaft 138. A second shaft 142 is rotatably mounted in an opening 140 extended through the bar 129, and the shaft is disposed to be transverse to the shaft 138. Of course, two such shafts 142 are provided since, as previously mentioned, all parts on the member 43 are in duplicate, and at this time it should be noted that the sectioning of the member 43 in Fig. 1 is along two different planes on the member 43 and, therefore, the drawing appears difierent at the opposite ends of the bar 129. The shaft 142 is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings within the bar 129, and the shaft 142 supports a second bevel gear 143 which is disposed in meshing relation with the bevel gear 141 and is, therefore, driven by the latter.

As shown in Fig. 1, the upper end of the shaft 142 contains a crank or eccentric 144 which has a ball bearing 146, and a link or arm 147 is suitably secured over the bearing 146.

At this time it should be understood that rotation of the bar 129 causes the planet gears 137 to move around the gear 136 and rotate the bevel gears 141 which in turn rotate the meshing bevel gears 143. Rotation of the gears 143 causes the shafts 142 to rotate, and the eccentric or crank 144 induces the usual crank motion to the link 147, and it is the reciprocating component of g the crank motion which is transmitted to the cutters 132 by means hereinafter described.

One end of the link 147 connects through a pin 14 to a projection 149 on a cutter bar or cutter mounting bar 151. The latter extends substantially across thebar 129, and the drawings show the bar 151 is disposed within a suitable opening in the bar 129 and, of course, two

' pers 36 on the bars 38. that just as the members 27 and 33 are geared together, 1 the cylinders 14, 17, 21, and 44 are alsogeared with to its cutting edge 134. Of course, the blade movement mentioned is a slicing action which occurs when the blade is adjacent the signatures 10, which is the position shown in Fig. 1.

It will be noted that the bolts 152 extend through slots 153 in the member 151, to thread into the blade 132. Also, bolts 154 extend through the piece 151 and carry a wedge 156 which engages a taper 157 on the piece 151 and a taper 158 on the back edge of the blade 132. With this arrangement, loosening of the bolts 152, which are accessible through openings 159 in the bar 129, and adjustment of the wedge bolts 154, which are accessible through openings 161 in the bar 129, will permit the blade to be moved radially with respect to its center of rotation, and in this manner, the cutting edge 134 can be positioned as desired. The blade can be removed to be sharpened and then repositioned to extend toward the cylinder 33 the required amount for cutting the signatures 10.

It will be noted that a plurality of rollers 162 are disposed behind the member 151 to support the latter in an antifriction manner against the bar 129 in order that the member 151 and the cutter 132 can move axially of their center of rotation when the cutter is trimming the signatures 10. Fig. 1 also shows a compression coil spring 163 disposed between the bar 129 and the pressure bar 133. The shoulder is provided on top of the bar 133 to restrict the latter in its sliding movement radially outwardly, and it should be understood thatthe pressure bar 133 presses against the signature 10 to hold the same against the cylinder 33 while mounted on the member 44 for the well-known gripper action of receiving the signature 10 from the cylinder 33. The member 44 is also provided with an arcuate guide 167 which supports the trailing portion of the signature 10 when the latter 1 3 and out of the machine. The guide 167 rotates with the member 44 and, with the signature 10 disposed between the members 33 and 44, as shown in Fig. 1, it will be seen that the signature 10 is curved essentially an equal amount around each of the members 33 and 44,-such that the trailing end of the signature 10 has the various sheets substantially aligned and, therefore, the cutter 132 will cut the sheets equally so that the completed book is formedhaving even margins along that cut edge which is opposite'the folded edge.

Fig. 3 shows the mounting and gearing of the three members 27, 33, and 43. The shaft28 of the member '27 has a spur gear 168 keyed thereto, and it should be understood that the gear 168 is driven from a gear 169, fragmentarily shown. The gear 168 thus drives the shaft 128, and it will be noted that a second spur'gear 171is keyed to the shaft 128 to be in meshing relation with a double sized spur gear 172 which is mounted on the shaft 41, but is not keyed thereto. A bolt 173 aflixes the gear 172 with the bar 138 so that the two are rotatable together, and it will alsobe noted that the bolt 127 passes through the gear 172. Thus, as previously mentioned, loosening of the bolts 127 will permit the bar 38 and the gear 172 to be rotated together with respect to the bar 39, and this correspondingly rotates the gear 171, and thus the rotational position of the cylinder 27 is synchronized with the adjustment of the leading grip- It should 'also be understood is moved along the guide the cylinders 27 and 33 in the mannershown with regard to the latter two cylinders, and, therefore, the "punch, stapler, tucker and folder, both sets of leading grippers 36, and the final grippers 166 are all geared together'in one gear train.

Another gear train is provided in the machine for driving the remainder of the parts. Fig. 3 shows a spur gear 174 keyed to the shaft 41 and a meshing spur gear 176 iskeyed to theshaft 131 so that the shafts 41 and of trailing grippers 37. With this arrangement, the trailing grippers 37 are synchronized with the cutter bars 132, and in addition to this, by conventional gearing, the feed mechanism 12 is similarly geared with the gears 174 and 176 so that the other gear train includes the initial feed mechanism 12 and the trailing grippers 37 and the cutter bars 32. With the two gear trains provided, it should be obvious that any adjustment made in'the position of the bars 38 to accommodate longer sections 10 or adjust for different trimming thereof, will auto matically be carried throughout the machine along one gear train which drivesall of the parts associated with the center line of the signature, prior to folding thereof, and the leading edge of the signature, which is 'the'center line after folding. The other gear train is similarly synchronized to drive all of the parts which operate on the trailing end of the signature.

While a specific embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it should be obvious that certain changes could be made therein, and the scope of this invention should, therefore, be limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A book making machine comprising a series of rotatably mounted members disposed with the axes thereof parallel and with said members in paper transfer communication, paper holding means disposed on certain of said members in rotative synchronization for holding said paper to said certain of said members and for progressively positively transferring said paper between said certain of said members at a uniform speed, a first one of said members including stapling means for stitching together a plurality of sheets constituting said paper, paper folder means on a second one of said members for receiving said paper from said first one of said members and folding said paper, a third one of said members mounted for having said holding means thereof positively receiring said paper from said folder means along the line of fold of said paper and rotating said paper, paper cutting means mounted adjacent said third one of said members and including a circular cutting edge oriented in a positon of rolling contact with respect to said third one of said members for trimming the side of said paper while the latter is on said third one of said members, and paper cutting means for trimming the trailing end of said paper while the latter is in continuous movement by being on said third one of said members.

2. A machine for stitching, folding, and trimming a signature or the like of paper, the combination comprising a first cylinder rotatably mounted, a paper gripper on said first cylinder for holding said paper thereon during rotat'on of said first cylinder, a stitcher mounted adjacent said first cylinder for stitching saidrpaper along a line thereof during rotation of said first cylinder, a

folder rotatably mounted in paper transfer communicatpaper transfer communication with and movable to within the radius of said folder for gripping said paper along said line and taking said paper oif said folder, paper crit- 'ter means mounted adjacent said paper gripper for trimaaea'ses i ming the sides and the trailing end of said paper, said first cylinder and said folder and said gripper adapted for 1 continuous rotation to transfer said paper through said machine at a uniform speed.

3. A machine comprising in combination a series of cylinders rotatably mounted in paper transfer communication and operable for passing a signature of paper therethrough at a uniform speed, a rotary stitcher included in said series for receiving and stitching said signature, a folder cylinder included in said series for receiving said signature from said stitcher and folding said signature along the line of stitching, a gripper cylinder included in said series for receiving said signature from a cutting edge disposed parallel to and movable through the trailing end of said signature opposite the folded end, and means for moving said second paper cutter through said trailing end for trimming the latter while said gripper cylinder is rotating signature at said uniform speed.

4. A machine comprising in combination a series of cylinders rotatably mounted in paper transfer communication and operable for passing a signature of paper therethrough at a uniform speed, a rotary stitcher included in said series for receiving and stitching said signature, a folder cylinder included in said series for receiving said signature from said stitcher and folding said signature along the line of stitching, a gripper cylinder included in said series for receiving said signature from said folder cylinder, a rotationally leading gripping means and a rotationally trailing gripping means on said gripper cylinder for respectively gripping the folded edge of said signature and the opposite edge thereof to secure said signature to the circumference of said gripper cylinder,

paper trimming means mounted adjacent said gripper cylinder for co-acting with said gripper cylinder for trimming said signature along the sides thereof and the rotationally trailing edge while said gripper cylinder is rotating said signature at said uniform speed.

5. A series of paper signature working members comprising in combination a rotary stitcher for receiving a signature and rotating the same at a uniform linear speed and for stitching the same along a line thereof while rotating at said speed, a signature folder mounted adjacent said stitcher for receiving said signature from said stitcher at said speed for folding said signature along said line thereof, and a rotary trimmer mounted adjacent said folder and including gripper means for receiving said signature from said folder at said speed and for rotating said signature and including paper trimmer means for trimming the three unfolded sides of said signature While said signature is rotated by said trimmer at said speed.

6. A series of paper signature working members comprising in combination a rotary stitcher for receiving a signature and rotating the same at a uniform linear speed and for stitching the same along a line thereof while rotating at said speed, a signature folder mounted adjacent said stitcher for receiving said signature from said stitcher at said speed for folding said signature along said line thereof, a trimmer cylinder mounted adjacent said folder for receiving said signature therefrom, grippers on said cylinder as the latter rotates said signature past said blades, and a cutter operatively associated with said trimmer cylinder for cutting the edge of said signature opposite said line of fold thereof against the backing of said trimmer cylinder as the latter mo ves said signature at said speed. 7

V 7. A book making machine comprising a series of rotatably mounted members disposed with the axes thereof parallel and with said members in paper transfer communication with paper fed into said machine at a certain uniform rate, paper gripping means on certain of said members for holding said paper to said members for progressively transferring said paper along said members at a uniform speed, a first one of said members including stapling means for stitching together a plurality of sheets constituting said paper, paper folder means on a second one of said members for receiving said paper from said first one of said members and folding said paper, a third one of said members mounted for receiving said paper from said folder means, paper cutting means mounted adjacent said third one of said members for trimming the side of said paper, and paper cutting means for trimming the trailing end of said paper while the latter is in continuous movement along said members, said paper cutting means being in drive relation with the motion of the feed of said paper into said machine, said first one of said members and said paper folder means and said third one of said members all being in drive relation separate from the other drive relation of said cutting means.

8. In a machine for making books from paper fed into said machine at a certain uniform rate, the combination of a rotatably mounted cylinder, a gripper on said cylinder for initially receiving said paper fed into said machine, a stitcher anvil and a tucker both mounted on said cylinder, a stitcher rotatably mounted adjacent said cylinder for matching with said anvil, a folder rotatably mounted in paper transfer communication with said cylinder, a second cylinder rotatably mounted in paper transfer communication with said folder, a leading gripper on said second cylinder for receiving said paper from said folder, a trailing gripper on said second cylinder for holding the rotationally trailing end of said paper, a cutter rotationally mounted adjacent said second cylinder in essentially rolling contact therewith and having a cutting edge disposed parallel to the axis of said second cylinder, said cutter and said trailing gripper being adjustable for synchronization with the feed into said machine, said stitcher and said stitcher anvil and said tucker and said folder and said leading gripper all being adjustable for synchronization together.

9. In a machine for making books from paper fed into said machine at a certain uniform rate, the combination of a rotatably mounted cylinder, a gripper on said cylinder for initially receiving said paper fed into said machine, a stitcher anvil and a tucker both mounted on said cylinder, a stitcher rotatably mounted adjacent said cylinder for matching with said anvil, a folder rotatably mounted in paper transfer communication with said cylinder and for cooperation with said tucker, a second cylinder rotatably mounted in paper transfer communication with said folder, a leading gripper on said second cylinder for receiving said paper from said folder and securing said paper to said second cylinder during rotation of the latter, a trailing gripper on said second cylin der for holding the rotationally trailing end of said paper to said second cylinder during rotation of the latter, a cutter rotationally mounted adjacent said second cylinder in essentially rolling contact therewith and having a cutting edge disposed parallel to the axis of said second cylinder, a first gear train engaged with said cutter and said trailing gripper for synchronization with the feed into said machine, a second gear train engaged with said stitcher and said stitcher anvil and said tucker and said folder and said leading gripper for synchronization together.

10. In a machine for making books from paper fed into said machine at a certain uniform rate, the combination of a folder rotatably mounted in paper transfer communication for receiving and folding said paper, a leading gripper rotatably mounted in paper transfer communication with said folder for receiving said paper from said folder at the leading end of said paper, a trailing gripper rotatably mounted in paper transfer communication with said folder for receiving said paper from said folder for holding the rotationally trailing end of said paper, a cutter rotationally mounted adjacent said grippers in essentially rolling contact therewith and having a cutting edge disposed parallel to the axis of rotation of said grippers, a first gear train engaged with said cutter and said trailing gripper for synchronization with the feed into said machine, a second gear train engaged with said folder and said leading gripper for synchronization together.

11. In a machine for making books from paper fed into said machine at a certain uniform rate, the com bination of a rotatably mounted cylinder, a gripper on said cylinder for initially receiving said paper fed into said machine, a stitcher anvil and a tucker both mounted on said cylinder, a stitcher rotatably mounted adjacent said cylinder for matching with said anvil, a folder rotatably mounted in paper transfer communication with said cylinder, a second cylinder rotatably mounted in paper transfer communication with said folder, a leading gripper adjustably mounted on said second cylinder for receiving said paper from said folder, a trailing gripper on said second cylinder for holding the rotationally trailing end of said paper, a cutter rotationally mounted adjacent said second cylinder in essentially rolling contact therewith and having a cutting edge disposed parallel to the axis of said second cylinder for cooperation therewith to cut said trailing end of said paper, said cutter and said trailing gripper being geared together for synchronization with the feed into said machine, said stitcher and said stitcher anvil and said tucker and said folder being geared together with said leading gripper for rotational move ment with the adjustment of said leading gripper.

12. In a machine for making books from paper fed into said machine at a certain uniform rate, the combination of a folder rotatably mounted in papertransfer communication for receiving and folding said paper, a leading gripper rotatably mounted in paper transfer communication with said folder for receiving said paper from said folder at the leading end of said paper, a trailing gripper rotatably mounted in paper transfer communication with said folder for receiving said paper from said folder for holding the rotationally trailing end of said paper, a cutter rotationally mounted adjacent said grippers in essentially rolling contact therewith and having a cutting edge disposed parallel to the axis of rotation of said grippers for trimming said paper, a final gripper rotatably mounted in paper transfer communication with said leading gripper for receiving said paper therefrom, a first gear train engaged with said cutter and said trailing gripper for synchronization with the feed into said machine, a second gear train engaged with said folder and said leading gripper and said final gripper for synchronization together.

13. In a machine for making books from paper fed into said machine at a certain uniform rate, the combination of a rotatably mounted cylinder, a first gripper adjustably mounted on said cylinder for initially receiving the front edge of said paper fed into said machine, a stitcher anvil and a tucker both mounted on said cylinder in the same line therealong, a stitcher rotatably mounted adjacent said cylinder for matching with said anvil, a folder rotatably mounted in paper transfer communication with said cylinder and mating with said tucker, a second cylinder rotatably mounted in paper transfer communication with said folder, a leading gripper on said second cylinder for receiving the folded edge of said paper from said folder, a trailing gripper on said second cylinder for holding the rotationally trailing end of said paper, a cutter rotationally mounted adjacent said second cylinder in essentially rolling contact therewith and having a cutting edge disposed parallel to the axis of said second cylinder, said cutter and said trailing gripper being adjustable for synchronization with the feed into said machine and independent of the adjustment of said first gripper, said stitcher and said stitcher anvil and said tucker and said folder and said leading gripper all being adjustable for synchronization together.

14. he machine for making books from paper fed into said machine at a certain uniform rate, the combination of a rotatably mounted cylinder of a certain radius, a gripper on the circumference of said cylinder for initially receiving the front edge of said paper fed into said machine, a stitcher anvil and a tucker both mounted on said cylinder in the same line therealong, a stitcher rotatably mounted for operation essentially on a radius equal to said certain radius and adjacent said cylinder for matching with said anvil, a folder rotatably mounted for operation essentially on a radius equal to said certain radius and in paper transfer communication with said cylinder and mating with said tucker, a second cylinder rotatably mounted in paper transfer communication with said folder and of a radius twice that of said certain radius, two diametrically disposed leading grippers on said second cylinder for alternately receiving the folded edge of said paper from said folder upon rotation of said cylinders, two diametrically disposed trailing grippers on said second cylinder for alternately holding the rotationally trailing end of said paper, two diametrically disposed cutters rotationally mounted adjacent said second cylinder for operation essentially on a radius twice thatof said certain radius to be in essentially rolling contact with said second cylinder and each having a cutting edge disposed parallel to the axis of said second cylinder for alternately cutting said trailing end of said paper, said cutter and said trailing gripper being adjustable for synchronization with the feed into said machine, said stitcher and said stitcher anvil and said tucker and said folder and said leading gripper all being adjustable for synchronization together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Jan. 22, 1948 

